I-Journey

Global Entry remains suspended as shutdown fallout drags on

Global Entry, the expedited customs program that lets pre-approved international travelers skip the standard passport control line, has been suspended since late February — and more than five months later, there’s still no firm date for when it will come back.

The Department of Homeland Security paused Global Entry arrival processing nationwide as a partial federal government shutdown dragged on, redirecting the Customs and Border Protection officers who normally staff Global Entry kiosks to other duties. DHS initially said TSA PreCheck would be suspended too, but reversed that decision days later — PreCheck has remained fully operational throughout, so domestic travelers haven’t lost their expedited security lane. Global Entry is a separate program covering customs and passport processing for international arrivals, and that’s the piece that’s still offline.

Lawmakers have pushed back on the open-ended timeline. Sen. Jacky Rosen and Sen. Mark Warner have both pressed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem directly for a restart date, but the agency has yet to commit to one. In the meantime, Global Entry members flying internationally are being funneled through the same passport control lines as everyone else.

The practical takeaway for travelers: if you’re flying back into the U.S. from abroad in the coming weeks, budget extra time at passport control even if you’re a Global Entry member, since the kiosks and dedicated lanes remain unavailable until DHS restores the program.

Sources: BAL Immigration News, TIME, The Hill